Washing-machine.



No. 66!,726. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

' T. J. PICKETT.

WASHING MACHINE. I

(Application fl1ed A zg. 11, 1900.) I (No Modvl.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

THE poms wzrzns co, PNDYD-LITHQ, WASNINGTON. we.

Patented Nov. l3, I900. T. J. PICYKETT.

WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

u O 0 0 a a m-u-ri m" WASHINGTON u c NIT-ED STATES ATENT ome- WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,726, dated November 13, 1900.

Application filed A ust 11, i900. Serial No. 26,586. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. PIGKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in VVashing-Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Myinvention relates to a machine for washing clothes. It consists of a convex-faced rocking plate resting upon the clothes in a tub, with a rod or stem upon which fits a crossyoke connected at each end with a weight-carrying platform and means for operating the plate while under pressure and adjusting the different parts, as will be fully shown by the following specification and drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine, the side of the tub being partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a modification of the stand, platform, and handle-bar connections. Fig. 4C is a top view of the tub.

A represents an ordinary tub upon a bench or other support, as 2.

3 is a rocking block or plate with a convex face and a diameter alittle less than that of the tub. The face of the plate is a segment of a cylinder to permit forward-andbackward rocking and prevent rolling in a transverse direction. curely attached a stem 5, which is slotted at its upper end to receive the cross-yoke or handle-bar 6. This handle-bar is notched at its middle 25 and rests upon the pin 22. At each end of the handle-bar are hangers 23, carrying pulleys 7. Similar pulleys 7' are attached to a cross-bar 8 beneath the tub-support, forming part of the press lire-platform 10. The attaching parts of these pulleys 7 to the cross-bar 8 are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the center and on the under side of the bar 8 are pivoted at 15 the arms 14, having ho'oks 13 to engage the said pulleys. A cross-piece 11 rests upon the platform-bars 10, upon which the operator stands. A rope 9 is attached at one end at 13, as at the right, Fig. 2, passes up through the yoke-pulley '7 and down and through the platform-pulley 7 and then up through the space in the pulley'hanger 23, through the slot in the bar 5, and beneath the under side of the handle-bar 6, through the At its center 4 is se the purpose of both, as by looping the pin 26 and then passing through the two pulleys and its other end being attached to 13 at the left. By the withdrawal of the pin 22 the rope 9, with the handle-bar 6, can be readily freed from all connection with the rocking plate and permit of separate and easy handling and storing.

To operate, the tub is filled as desired with water and clothes properly soaped, the rocking plate placed upon them, and the yoke and platform attached and in position, as shown. This platform has one end resting upon the ground and the other is suspended by the ropes 9 and 9. The operator stands upon the cross-board 11 and grasps the handle-bar 6 on either side of its center and by a simple alternating push and pull thereon causes the plate 3 torock back and forth upon the clothes within the tub, which by this movement and the constant downward pressure of the plate are soon cleansed. The adjustment of the platform is made to the handle-bar in relation to the height and convenience of the operator and to the amount of the wash by the shortening or lengthening of the ropes 9 9' by the attachment of the end of the rope or ropes to the various pins 26-as,' for instance, to bring the elevated end of the platform nearer the handle-bar and so accommodate a short person the rope'ring would be put over a pin farther to the right on the handle-bar.

The parts 14 are made and pivoted as shown for the following reasons: As the handle-bar is moved forward and n the stem 5 is inclined more from the perpendicular the arms 14: turn also and the ropes 9 9' tend to keep in aline parallel with the position they had originally, and so when the handlebar is swung backward there is the same adjusting movement. This is of considerable importance, because it requires far less power to rock the plunger than it would were the attaching-points 13 fixed and stationary upon the bar 8, as then with the weight upon the platform the stem 5 would always seek an upright position, and consequently the farther the stem was inclined from the perpendicular the more power would be required on-v the part of the operator, While as I make my device the power applied is nearly constant,

and the eifort to cause the rocking is but.

slight at that and varies but little in proportion to whatever extra pressure be put upon the plate. I

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of my machine embodying the same principles, but in a lighter form and intended for use under certain conditions. There is the same tub, rocker, and handle; but I do away with the pulleys and connect either end of two ropes to a cross-bar 19 at 20, and the other ends of the ropes pass up through eyes 21 at the respective ends of the handle 6 and attach to adjusting-pins 26.

Attached to the bench 2 by the pins 1'7 are the links 16, connecting to the platform by pins 18. ment to the pins 26 as to cause the platform to clear the ground and which is thus suspended at two points. The operator stands upon the bar 11 and moves the handle, as be fore, the positions and angles of the ropes 9 9, the bars 10, and the links 16 changing relatively as the handles are moved. That the clothes may not pack too solidly in the bottom of the tub there is inserted the false bottom, made with the cross-bars 28 and connected by strips or hands 29.

To prevent splashing of suds by the agitation of the rocking plate, I have shown a cover 30, consisting of a hoop 31, fitting tightly against the inner upper edge of the tub, to which is attached the flexible cover 30, with a central opening sufiiciently large to permit the backward-and-forward movement of the stem 5. This cover also tends to keep out the dust and dirt.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a washing-machine, the combination of atub, a rocking plate fitting within the tub,

having a rounded lower face and an actuating-stem, means by which this plate may be The rope is so adjusted by attachgiven a rolling backward-and-forward movemeut,.and means by which the pressure of the plate in the tub may be regulated including a transverse centrally-pivoted handle-bar, a pressure-platform and connect-ions between the latter and the ends of the handle-bar.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a convex-faced rocking plate having an actuating-stem, a transverse handle-bar supported above the tub and centrally pivoted to said stem, a pressure-platform, a transverse connection across the platform, and means joining the opposite portions of said connection with the corresponding ends of the handle-bar.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination of-a tub and support,with a convex-faced plate having a notched stem, a handle-bar which is centrally pivoted on this stem, pulleys at each end of this handle-bar, a pressure-platform, other pulleys connected therewith, and ropes passing through said pulleys and adj ustahly fastened to the handle-bar, and secured to one end of the pressure-platform.

4. In a Washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a convex-faced plate having a central stem, a transverse handle-bar, pulleyblocks at each end thereof, a pressure-plattorm, arms pivoted thereto to move horizontally, other pulley-blocks carried by the arms, ropes passing around said blocks and connecting .the handle-bar and platform, and means for adjusting the platform with relation to the handle-bar.

5. The combination ofa tub, a convex-faced plate therein and having a stem, a transverse handle-bar centrally pivoted to said stem, a pressure-platform adapted to bear the weight of the operator, connections at the ends of the handle-bar and other connections at the sides of the platform, and ropes engaging said connections, and means on the handle-bar for the attachment of the end of the ropes whereby the platform is adjusted with relation to the handle-bar.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS J. PIOKETT. 

